- David A. Wilson, Executive Director
Media Contact for Holbrook Select Board Member William Watkins Pays Penalty and Restitution of $18,900 for Violating Conflict of Interest Law
Gerry Tuoti, Public Information Officer
Boston, MA — Holbrook Select Board member William Watkins has paid an $8,000 civil penalty and $10,900 in restitution to a local mason for violating the conflict of interest law by accepting work on his home walkways, steps, and porch that was performed for free due to his position as Select Board member. Watkins signed a Disposition Agreement in which he admitted the violations and waived his right to a hearing.
In September 2022, Watkins mentioned the poor condition of his home’s steps and walkway to a fellow Select Board member. His Select Board colleague later texted him that he could get Watkins’ “stairs done for free,” to which Watkins replied with a thumbs-up emoji. Watkins’ colleague asked a local mason to assess Watkins’ steps and walkway, and the mason then installed new steps and walkways in February 2023. Watkins and the mason did not discuss the cost of the work prior to or during the work. As the only significant relationship between Watkins and the other Select Board member was serving together on the Select Board, Watkins knew or had reason to know when he received the mason’s work without paying for it that he was receiving it for free due to his official position.
On April 4, 2023, amid local rumors and following the advice of another Select Board member, Watkins called the State Ethics Commission’s Enforcement Division to self-report, stating that he had inadvertently accepted a valuable gift. Watkins thereafter sought an invoice from the mason, which he received on July 27, 2023 in the amount of $9,800. Watkins replied to the mason that he would need some time to pay that amount. The mason directed him to pay what he could “for now” and indicated he could pay the remainder later.
Watkins still had not paid the mason by April 25, 2024, after which the Commission authorized adjudicatory proceedings against Watkins. The restitution agreed to in the Disposition Agreement was delivered to the mason on September 20, 2024.
By accepting the free work on his home steps, porch, and walkways, Watkins violated the conflict of interest law’s prohibition against public employees soliciting or receiving anything worth $50 or more that is given to them for or because of their official positions.
“Being a public official does not entitle one to receive for free valuable goods and services that others must pay for,” said State Ethics Commission Executive Director David A. Wilson. “The law is clear that public employees must not seek or accept valuable free goods or services given to them because of their official positions.”
The Commission encourages public employees to contact the Commission’s Legal Division at 617-371-9500 for free advice if they have any questions regarding how the conflict of interest law may apply to them.
###